TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

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Brain injuries happen every day in the West Texas, Midland-Odessa, and Permian Basin.  Fortunately, the first responders are specially trained to us.  But, the injuries are often painful and can be life-altering.  The help of an attorney based in Midland-Odessa can get assistance to you and your family right away, working to get you the best medical care, documenting your injuries, and securing the accident scene before critical evidence gets "lost."

A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, occurs when there is damage to the brain caused by trauma.  A TBI can be caused by any bump, blow, or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain functions.  A concussion is one type of TBI.  Just like each brain is unique, so is each brain injury.  Following a trauma to the head, symptoms may appear immediately or weeks later.

There is another category of brain injury called Acquired Brain Injury, or ABI.  ABIs include TBIs, but also encompasses injuries to the brain that are caused after birth by a loss of oxygen to the brain or by strokes or other cerebral vascular accident.  Acquired brain injuries can result from mercury or lead poisoning, infection, near drowning, hypoxic or anoxic brain injury, tumor, neurotoxins, electric shocks or lightning strike.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), TBIs contribute to 30 percent of all injury deaths in the U.S.  Every day 153 people in the U.S. die from injuries that include a TBI.  In 2013, the CDC reports there were about 2.8 million TBI-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States.  More than $48 million is spent annually in the U.S. to treat traumatic brain injuries.

Common Types of Brain Injuries

• Diffuse Axonal Injury (TBI)

• Concussion (TBI)

• Contusion (TBI)

• Coup-contre coup injury (TBI)

• Second Impact Syndrome (TBI)

• Open and Closed Head Injuries 

• Penetrating Injury (TBI) 

• Shaken Baby Syndrome (TBI) 

• Anoxic brain injury (ABI)

• Hypoxic brain injury (ABI) 

Brain injuries happen in many ways—in a vehicle accident, on a construction site, or because someone is negligent.  The leading causes of TBIs in 2013 were falls (47%) and being struck by or against an object (15%).

Sadly, brain or head injuries can result in long-term disability or even death.  Sometimes, the injury’s affects are noticeable right away.  Symptoms can emerge over time, and diagnosing them can be difficult.  Traumatic brain injuries impact not just the person injured.  Their family, co-workers, and friends are all affected.

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Side Effects of Brain Injuries

Mild TBIs can easily be overlooked, but the effect on you and your family can be devastating.  Mild traumatic brain injuries include a loss of consciousness or confusion and disorientation that lasts less than 30 minutes.  A mild TBI can exhibit as:

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Sleep disturbance

• Irritability

• Sensitivity to noise or light

• Balance problems

• Decreased concentration and attention span

• Decreased speed of thinking

• Memory problems

• Nausea

• Depression and anxiety

• Emotional mood swings

A severe TBI is associated with significant trauma to the brain or penetration of the skull.  Severe traumatic brain injury can result in death.  Survivors may suffer abnormal speech or language, loss of thinking ability, emotional problems or limited use of arms or legs. A severe brain injury may feature:

• Coma

• Vegetative State

• Persistent Vegetative State

• Minimally Responsive State

• Akinetic Mutism

• Locked-in Syndrome